Harden open to taking less

This is a little bit dated at this point, having been published all the way back yesterday, but I thought it was appropriate to throw out James Harden’s revelation that he’s open to taking less money in order to remain in Oklahoma City for the obvious ramifications it might have on the Spurs and the rest of the Western Conference.

Harden, last year’s Sixth Man of the Year, had been expected to eschew an extension with the Thunder in order to seek a maximum contract next year as a restricted free agent. And who knows? He still might, despite never having made the All-Star team. (Phoenix would be just one of the teams lining up to give him basically whatever he wants.)

But Harden sang a different tune yesterday, telling The Oklahoman he expect a deal to be struck with Oklahoma City by the Oct. 31st deadline. “That’s why I’m not too worried about it,” he said. “The support that I have here and that the Thunder has here is unreal. I love this beautiful city.”

Never take anything for face value when money’s involved, especially that much of it. (The going rate for max deals are around $14.5 million per.) But that probably isn’t what the rest of the Thunder’s rivals in the West wanted to hear.